The Arizona sentinel., 1887-06-11
BASEBALL.
Father Tries His Hand at the
 Modern Game.
"One haIlr'

The umpire was blessed with huf1y blonde hair that streamed in golden shower from under a knowing little cap of blue and white flannel. The umpire's costume was of white flannel, trimmed with blue, cut without any bias, as an umpire's costume should be, and altogether about as neat a thing as ever was seen on the ball field. The umpire's eyes were as blue as the sunny skies of Italy, and there was a pair of peachy pink cheeks un- der the eyes and a delicate little nose, piquantly celestial in its inclination; strawberry lips, and teeth winter than the cover of a brand new ball. And there wasn't man in the game who would have disputed the umpire's de- eision for any honor known to the glori- ous National pastime. There wasn't one of them who wasn't glad to get out just to hear the delicious ripple of that musical voice as it said:
 Striker out "
 And why was all this? Sir Walter Scott remarks in Wentworth" "All for little pink and white-and so falls ambition" The umpire's name was Eulalie, and what Eulalie did not know about the League rules was what had not been written. The boys-they were college boys and called themselves men, striving by frequent use of the razor to make good their claim to the lordly title-the boys all swore by her. Aud even when just a few of them went out for practice game of ''one, two, three," they would have their fair um- pire out to see the thing done properly. Once Harry had sent in hot out-curve and hit the umpire, and the young pitcher came pretty near being mobbed right then and there. But the umpire calmly stopped, picked up the ball. and threw it back to the pitcher, saying:
 ''One ball"
 And then the boys all cheered the umpire and vowed that she was as plucky as she was beautiful, and they would all have fallen down and wor- shiped her immediately had they not known that she could be as severely satirical to worshipers as she was plucky. Pretty soon father came out in his comfortable white fannels, and, lying down in the shade watched the game. Father was fine specimen of manhood, and though he was in his fiftieth year he could play fine game of tennis, kill twenty-eight out of thirty birds at the trap every day, and chase the wild anise seed bag over the stifest country known to the Dusenbury County Hunt.
 'I say. you boys" called father, ''what kind of game is this you're playing?"
 Base ball, of course, " replied John nv, with an indescribable sheer at his sire's ignorance.
 Johnny was only fourteen and he knew it all. He was sure he could pitch better than Harry, who was twenty and on the Varsity nine, and catch all around George, who was nineteen. a Freshman, and one of the best all- around players in college.
 Base ball, ehP' said father, Well, you don't play it as we used to twenty-five years ago."
 Well, I should hope not" was the reply.
 Say, Pop" called Frankie, who was standing like patience on a monu- ment on first base, "why don't you pull of your coat and take a hack at
 You irreverent young beggar," re- sponded Pop" half laughing, 'Tn come over there and take hack at you"
 No, mo-" was the general chorus; ''eome and play"
 Come, father" said the umpire, ''now's the time to show these boys what man knows about base ball"
 The covert taunt of the beautiful wretch was too much for father. He arose and pulled off his coat display ing a superb torso that his loose fan nel shirt could not hide, and strode into the field.
 Here, Pop" cried Albert, take my place at short, and then you'll soon get up to pitcher"
 Father accepted the generous offer and braced himself to gather in the wayward grounder. Peter was at the bat and he gazed upon father with an evil eye. Harry sent in ''corker'' and Peter got one strike.
 What makes you pitch so hard, Harry?" said father; ''he can't hit it
 Don't want him to-" said Harry; ''what do you suppose I'm pitching for but to get him out?''
 ''Oh, he must hit it" said father. impatiently; that's no way to play. Why, I remember when the Skowhe- gans beat the Jeremiahs 97 to 42. That was a game for you-none of your to 0 business in those days"
 "See here. father" asked Johnny. ''when the men chased one another around the bases that way how could you tell the difference between a game of ball and a six days go-as-you- pleaseP'